TUCSON RESTAURANTS

        Tucson is known for its great Mexican food. The local Arizona-Sonoran style is distinct from cuisines of neighboring states. Some of the unique features are huge, paper-thin flour tortillas, green corn tamales (made with sweet corn and stuffed with cheese and a green chile), flat enchiladas made of thick corn patties, and the use of red sauce (chile-flavored, not tomato-flavored) on just about everything. The chimichanga (deep-fried burrito) originated in the area. Some of the best Sonoran-style places are on the south side, so take a car or a bus down there.

Pretty much everywhere in Tucson is casual. That means you can wear jeans and don't need reservations. Most places are under $10, many under $5.

University area

Gentle Ben's
624-4177
865 E University Blvd (across from Frog and Firkin, below)
Brew pub - originally a dive that went upscale.

Frog and Firkin
623-7507
874 E. University, just west of campus
Good sandwiches and salads. Good for beer and watching people. Lots of beers on tap.

Cafe Paraiso
624-1707
808 E. University between Tyndal and Euclid
Good coffee, different kinds of lunch things. Lots of university types.

Bentley's
795-0338
1730 E. Speedway, just west of Campbell
Great place for coffee and talk in the AM; known for their iced mocha. Lots of university types. Share your body piercings.

El Cubanito
623-8020
1150 E. Sixth, west of Campbell
Big Cuban sandwiches that mostly involve pork, tasty fruit shakes.

Fourth Avenue

Fourth Avenue is hippie central. It has a lot of restaurants and shops, and is walking distance both from downtown and the university. Trolley and bus service also available from both those locations. If you don't like the suggestions here, just walk up and down it and you're bound to find something you like.

Time Market
University, east of 4th Ave
Good pizzas and deli sandwiches. Funky.

Bison Witches
740-1541
326 N. Fourth Avenue
A frat hangout, but worth going for the soups in bread bowls and sandwiches on extra-thick, homemade bread.

Delectables
884-9289
533 N. 4th, north of 6th
Sandwiches, cheese and fruit boards. My dad says: "If you are a guy and go alone, you will be the only guy there." Still, it's good food in a comfortable atmosphere.

The Shanty
623-2664
401 E. 9th St. - 4th av @ 9th
Oldest place in town and has a great patio; good for a quiet beer - there are 200 kinds (bottled). Lots of professors (if you like that kind of thing). Nice artwork on the west wall.

Maya Quetzal
622-8207
429 N. 4th Av, south of 6th
Excellent Guatemalan food at low prices – worth writing home about. Good vegetarian.

Caruso's
624-5765
434 N. 4th
Tucson's favorite Italian place since 1938.

Pancho Villa's
5th st @ 4th av
Mexican dive. Get the grilled onions

Athen's on Fourth
624-6886
500 N. Fourth Ave
Solid Greek cuisine

Downtown

Cafe Poca Cosa
622-6400
110 E Pennington St.
Nouvelle Mexican like nothing you have had before (Chef Suzana is an artist) - truly a must for all Tucson visitors. Menu changes daily and always includes at least one vegetarian selection. There is also a closet-sized lunch counter version a block away on Scott Avenue.

El Charro and Bar Toma
622-1922
311 N. Court Avenue, between Franklin and Washington, west of Church
A historic Tucson location, family-owned with great carne seca (see it drying on their roof). They also have "healthy" Mexican food. Interesting bar attached.

Cup Cafe in the Hotel Congress
798-1618
311 E. Congress across from train station
Cafe has great breakfast; desserts good too.

Tania's
622-0685
614 N. Grande, north of St. Mary's - not quite downtown, but not far
Mexican breakfast and lunches. Also, you can buy tortillas, tamales, and chorizo in bulk. Take in a pot on Saturday morning and tank up on menudo.

El Minuto
882-4145
254 S. Main, south of Cushing
A popular late-night place. The food is fine, but the real reason to go is that it's next-door to the historic local shrine of El Tiradito. Bring your own votive.

The Grill
623-7621
100 E. Congress
A classic diner with funky decor. Open really late, good for pies and milkshakes.

Cushing Street Bar
622-7984
198 W. Cushing St; near El Minuto, above
A mellow, nicer place to have a drink and (usually) hear some live music, near the oldest part of town (Barrio Viejo).

Farther away: South side

Mariscos Chihuahua (local chain, but the one on Grande south of Speedway is especially interesting for its artwork)
623-3563
1009 N. Grande
Good Mexican-style seafood - try the ceviche tostadas. Make sure you see all the 3-D murals. But the real mystery - why is it named after a landlocked state?

El Merendero
294-1522
5443 S. 12th Ave, way south of Irvington
Worth the drive - absolutely the best fish tacos. Beans, too.

Mi Nidito
622-5081
1813 S. 4th av between 28 & 29
Very popular, always long lines (no reservations). Clinton ate there and thus they have his "President's Platter" (one of everything on the menu). The chimichangas are good, and they have them for vegetarians, too.

Crossroads
624-0395
1901 S. 4th across from dog track and just south of Mi Nidito
Divey Mexican - pitchers of beer served to your car, if you like. Good fish (get the camarones al mojo de ajo).

El Guero Canelo
295-9005
5201 S.12th Ave, south of Irvington
Outdoor dining at its finest. Get a Manzanita (Mexican apple-flavored soft drink) and a carmelo (quesadilla with meat). Try a Sonoran-style hot dog (unlike anything you have seen; too much to explain, starting with the beans and mayo thing). If they are too crowded, go one block north to BK's Carnitas y Hot Dogs (same menu).

Pepe's Tire Repair & Mexican Food
9816 S. Nogales Highway
It's a bit of a drive, but who can resist the name? Pepe repairs tires while his wife makes the food, which isn't bad.

Farther away: Central

Eegees
Many locations
This local chain started as a drink stand in the 1970s. Their subs are good; their slush drinks made with real fruit are great.

La Fuente
623-8659
1749 N. Oracle, north of Drachman
Short drive from downtown. Big as a tourist destination, but it's still popular with locals because the food is so good. Known for their mole poblano (vegetarians can order it on cheese or sour cream enchiladas, not on the menu). Nopalitos (cactus in chile sauce) also a good vegetarian choice. Good, live mariachi music most nights.

Elle Wine Country Restaurant
327-0500
3048 E. Broadway Blvd
A favorite eatery known for its casual elegence, delicious food, and excellent wine selection. A wonderful getaway for extended conversation.

Zemam's Ethiopian
323-9928
2731 E. Broadway, west of Country Club
Short drive from downtown. This popular place is in a tiny house. They don't have a liquor license, but you can bring your own. Tasty platters of food - meat or veg- to share, at low prices.

Pastiche
323-3333
3025 North Campbell
Upscale dining in cosmospolitan southwestern atmosphere. Half portions. A favorite with university professors.

Beyond Bread
322-9965
3026 N Campbell Ave
747-7477
6260 E Speedway Blvd
Excellent sandwiches.

Yoshimatsu
320-1574
2745 N. Campbell
Healthy Japanese eatery with "insane" decor involving robots and Hello Kitty. Good bento boxes and "Japanese pizza."

Arizona Inn
325-1541
2200 E. Elm, east of Campbell and the UA Medical Center
Nice, old inn with 1930s charm and good continental food. Check out the library. Short drive from university.

Bob Dobbs
325-3767
2501 E. 6th St, at Tucson
Friendly neighborhood bar for sporty types. Make their own chips. Good place for beers.

La Parilla Suiza
624-4300
2720 N. Oracle, south of Miracle Mile - near downtown
also 747-4838, 5602 E. Speedway, east of Swan
Chain from Mexico City. Very different from local Sonoran-style stuff. Get both kinds of grilled onions for appetizers.

Frank's
881-2710
3843 E. Pima, west of Alvernon
Breakfast place known for cheap, tasty food and surly waitresses with nametags like "Hey You." Come be insulted. Great potatoes. Becomes "Francisco's" at night to serve Michoacan-style Mexican.

Farther away: north and east

Vivace
795-7221
4310 N. Campbell, SE corner of Campbell and River, St. Phillips Plaza
Great sorta continental-but-not food. Upscale, slightly pricey.

Cafe Terra Cotta
577-8100
3500 E. Sunrise, south side of Sunrise west of Campbell
Nouvelle Southwestern. Upscale, pricey.

Pinnacle Peak Steak House
296-0911
6541 E. Tanque Verde, west of Kolb
The classic steak house. Go wearing a tie and they will snip it off and tack it to the wall (the object is to find the ugliest tie to wear). Western Swing combo Dean Armstrong and the Dance Hands regularly sing and play for diners on weekend nights. East Tanque Verde is another major restaurant strip.

Seri Melaka
747-7811
6133 E. Broadway
Great Malaysian food - veg, meat, or seafood.